Gauge



Jan. 30, 1945.

E. H. FORS ETAL 2,358,129,

GAUGE Filed April 27, 1943 2 Sheets Sheet l 'HIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIHI" 4/ .37 33 36 Z4 E1210 F'oRs JosEPH v flaxfi Rona/10k Jan. 30, 1945.

E. H. FORS ET Al;

GAUGE Filed April 27, 1943 2 Shets-Sheet 2 8 G M Q 8v 3 H mm Db a 90 k Q .0 :w w k6 G lllll 3 .99 Ill .lllli Q w .3 3 vbhwouhuwb R a. 9v v MY kw 5V0 9w gvwe/rvbo'm E1210 H. Fans JOSEPH VV. RODNJCK Patented Jan. 30, 1945 GAUGE Eric H. Fors, Worcester, and Joseph W. Rodnick,

Grafton, Mass, assignors to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 27, 1943, Serial No. 484,729

9 Claims.

This invention relates to gauges, and more particularly to a device for use in obtaining correct alignment of the grooved rolls in a rolling mill with one another and with the guides.

In the manufacture of rolled metal products,

such as rods, bars, and the like, it is the common practice to employ a pair of rolls having circumferential grooves of such shape as to produce a desired cross-section in the issuing stock. Suitable guides are usually provided'to confine the stock in a definite path as it approaches and leaves the rolls. It is of great importance that each groove be positioned exactly opposite the other groove, and that the formed pass be exactly aligned with the guides. Otherwise the cross-section of the issuing stock will be distorted, there will be an excessive pressure between the stock and the guides, the stock will be scratched, the guides will wear rapidly, and the danger of cobbles will be greatly increased.

l-Ieretofore rolling mill operators have had to peer through the guides in a crude attempt to ascertain whether or not the rolls were correctly adjusted, and it has been necessary to run test bars through the rolls to determine the shape of the stock which the rolls would produce. All this has been crude, inaccurate, and time-consuming, and the results have been unsatisfactory unless the operators were highly skilled.

t is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive gauge which will enable a rolling mill operator to obtain correct alignment of the roll grooves with one another and with the guides.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a gauge for grooved rolls which can be utilized by a comparatively unskilled operator to obtain highly accurate results.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical cross-section through a rolling mill with our improved gauge in use thereon, the section being taken on the line l--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rolling mill and gauge;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the gauge? Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4

- guide box channel 2|.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the gauge;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 3,

together with a portion of the upper roll;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. '7.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a pair of spaced upright housings l5 (Figs. 1 and 2), and two horizontal rolls l6 having circumferential grooves l'l therein of the proper shape to produce a desired cross-section for the stock issuing from the rolls. These parts are of the ordinary construction employed in the rolling of metal. Any suitabl means may be provided for driving the rolls and for adjusting them axially as well as vertically, in accordance with the usual practice. A horizontal rest bar I9 extends between the housings l5 to provide a support for a guide box 20 of any suitable construction. As illustrated, this box is shaped to provide a horizontal groove or channel 2| of rectangular crosssection extending in the direction of stock travel at right angles with the rolls. It will be understood that this guide box is adapted to receive a guide through which the stock will travel, many types of such guides being known. For an example of one desirable construction, reference may be had to the patent to OMalley, No. 2,264,218, granted November 25, 1941.

It will be apparent that the guide may be accurately constructed so that it will support the stock traveling therethrough in the center of the Consequently, if the rolls 1 t can be adjusted axially to bring the grooves i! into alignment with the center of the said channel, the guide will be aligned with the grooves when it is mounted in the guide box. In accordance with the present invention this axial adjustment of the rolls is facilitated by means of an accurately constructed gauge adapted to be inserted in the guide box and to indicate the position of the rolls relative thereto.

In its preferred form the invention comprises an elongated lower block 23 and an elongated upper block. mounted on the lower block and slidable in a lengthwise direction thereon. Both of these blocks are placed within the channel 2| of the guide box 2!], with the lower block 23 .slidably supported on the bottom surface of this channel. The width of .the blocks is substantially equal. to that of the channel so that they are maintained at right angles with the rolls. Preferably the adjacent surfaces of the two blocks are shaped to provide a dove-tail joint 25 (Fig. '7) with the usual gib 21 and adjusting screws 28. In order to limit the relative sliding movement of the blocks, the upper block 24 is provided with a notch 29 (Fig. 10) to receive the projecting end of a screw 30 mounted in the lower block 23.

The inner portion of the gauge extends beyond the guide box 20 and into engagement with the rolls in such a manner as to ascertain the positions of the roll grooves I! relative to the guide box. For this purpose each of the blocks 23 and 24 is provided on its inner end with a finger 32 (Figs. 6 and 8) which is located adjacent one side of the block and extends inwardly toward the rolls. To the side of each finger 32 there is secured a pair of contact members 33 and 34 shaped to enter the groove [1 of the corresponding roll Iii, as shown in Fig. 8, and to engage the walls of the groove on the opposite sides of its center. is separated therefrom by a sheet of electrical insulating material 36, and the two members 33 and 34 are separated from each other by a sheet of electrical insulating material 31 and from the main body of the block 23 or 24 (as the case may be) by a sheet of electrical insulating material 38. The members 33 and 34 are fastened to the finger 32 by two screws 40 surrounded by sleeves 4i of electrical insulating material.

These various parts are so constructed and arranged that if the rolls are properly positioned with respect to the guide box, and the gauge blocks 23 and 24 are pushed inwardly toward the rolls, the contact members 33 and 34 will engage the opposite sides of the roll grooves l1,

' as shown in Fig. 8. Under these conditions each roll will provide an electrical connection between the two corresponding contact members. This connection is utilized to complete an electrical circuit which contains an electrically perated indicating device, whereby the operator will be advised that the correct roll adjustment has been made. As an indicating device we prefer to utilize a battery-operated incandescent lamp bulb.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that each of the blocks 23 and 24 is bored longitudinally to receive a sleeve 43 which is surrounded by thin-walled tubes 44 of electrical insulating material. held in place by means of a screw 45 which is threaded into the corresponding contact member 34, this screw being separated from the sleeve by a bushing 46 and washer 41 of electrical insulating material. An electrical connection is made between the inner end of the sleeve 43 and the corresponding contact member 33 by means of a coiled compression spring 48 (Fig, which rests within suitable recesses in these parts. Within each sleeve 43 there is mounted a pair of dry cell batteries 49 of the type ordinarily used in flashlights, the base of each inner battery engaging the head of the corresponding screw 45.

The central pole of each outer battery engages a pin 50 slidably supported in a bushing 5| of electrical insulating material mounted in a sleeve 52 which makes electrical contact with the interior surface of the surrounding sleeve 43. A socket 5 5 is soldered or otherwise secured to the outer end of the sleeve. 52 and supports a lamp bulb 55. The central contact in the base of this bulb engages a head 56 on the outer end of the pin 50. The outer portion of the bushing 5| is recessed to receive a coiled compression The member 33 nearest the finger 32 This sleeve is spring 5'! which surrounds the pin and engages the head 56 thereof to urge the same outwardly against the base of the bulb 55. The outer end of the sleeve 43 is screw-threaded internally to receive a hollow plug member 59 having a knurled flange or handle 60 on its outer end. Within this member 59 there is mounted a glass tube 6! which is held in place between a disk 63 at its outer end and a ring 64 at its inner end, the disk and ring being made of leather or similar material. The member 59 is provided with openings 65 spaced about its periphery so that the operator can readily note whether or not the bulb 55 is lighted. Between the inner end of the member 59 and the sleeve 52 there is mounted a coiled compression spring 61 which urges the sleeve 52 inwardly and holds the pin 50 in firm contact with the battery. It will be noted that the lower plug member 59 is made somewhat longer than the upper member, whereby improved visibility is obtained.

The operation of the invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. The gauge will be placed in the guide box 20 and the blocks 23 and 24 will be pushed inwardly toward the rolls iii. If both the rolls are correctly positioned axially to bring the grooves ll into alignment with the center of the guide box, the members 33 and 34 will make contact with the opposite sides of the grooves, as shown in Fig. 8. Thus an electrical circuit will be completed from each member 33. through the corresponding spring 48, sleeve 43, sleeve 52, socket 54, bulb 55, pin 50, batteries 49, screw 45, member 34, and thence through the metal of the roll 13 to the member 33. Both the bulbs 55 will therefore light. If either of the bulbs does not light, the operator will know that the corresponding roll is out of alignment, and he will thereupon make the necessary adjustment. In order to determine in which direction to move the roll, theoperator can insert a metal scale or rod into position to connect the roll electrically with one of the members 33 or 34, and if this causes the bulb to light he will know that this particular member is the one which is out of contact with the roll groove. Since the. slightest space is suflicient to break the electrical circuit when the supply is derived from batteries, which furnish relatively low voltages, the invention provides a, very accurate and convenient means for determining the proper adjustment of the rolls.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. .A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a grooved roll of a, rolling mill and an associated guide box comprising a block arranged to be placed in the guide box and pushed inwardly toward the roll, means on the inner end of the block arranged to enter the roll groove when the block is pushed inwardly, and a device connected with the said means and arranged to indicate whether or not the groove is correctly aligned with the guide box.

2. A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a pair of grooved rolls of a rolling mill and an associated guide box comprising a pair of elongated blocks connected for relative sliding movement longitudinally and arranged to be placed in the guide box and pushed inwardly toward the rolls, means on the inner end of each block arranged to enter the groove of the corresponding roll when the block is pushed inwardly, .and devices connected with the respective means and arranged to indicate whether or not the corresponding grooves are correctly aligned with the guide box.

3. A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a grooved roll of a rolling mill and an associated guide box comprising a block arranged to be placed in the guide box and pushed inwardly toward the roll, means on the inner end of the block arranged to enter the roll groove when the block is pushed inwardly, and a device mounted on the block and connected with the said means, the device being arranged to indicate whether or not the groove is correctly aligned with the guide box.

4. A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a grooved roll of a rolling mill and an associated guide box comprising a block arranged to be placed in the guide box and pushed inwardly toward the roll, means on the inner end' of the block arranged to enter the roll groove and to engage the opposite sides thereof when the groove is correctly aligned with the guide box, and a device connected with the said means and arranged to indicate when the said means is in engagement with the opposite sides of the roll groove.

5. A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a grooved roll of a rolling mill and an associated guide box comprising a block arranged to be placed in the guide box and pushed inwardly toward the roll, a pair of contact members mounted on the inner end of the block, the said members being arranged to enter the roll groove and to engage the opposite sides thereof when the groove is correctly aligned with the guide box, and means connected with the said contact members and arranged to indicate when they are in engagement with the opposite sides of the roll groove.

6. A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a grooved roll of a rolling mill and an associated guide box comprising a block arranged to be placed in the guide box and pushed inwardly toward the roll, a pair of contact members mounted on the inner end of the block and electrically insulated from one another, the said members being arranged to enter the roll groove and to engage the opposite sides thereof when the groove is correctly aligned with the guide box, whereby the members will be electrically connected by the roll, and a device arranged to indicate when the members are thus electrically connected.

7. A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a grooved roll of a rolling mill and an associated guide box comprising a block arranged to be placed in the guide box and pushed inwardly toward the roll, a pair of contact members mounted on the inner end of the block and electrically insulated from one another, the said members being arranged to enter the roll groove and to engage the opposite sides thereof when the groove is correctly aligned with the guide box, whereby the members will be electrically connected by the roll, a battery, a lamp bulb, and means connecting the battery and bulb in an electrical circuit with the said contact members.

8. A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a grooved roll of a rolling mill and an associated guide box comprising an elongated block arranged to be placed in the guide box and pushed inwardly toward the roll, the block having a longitudinally extending bore therein, a pair of contact members mounted on the inner end of the block and electrically insulated from the block and from one another, the said members being arranged to enter the roll groove and to engage the opposite sides thereof when the groove is correctly aligned with the guide 'box, whereby the members will be electrically connected by the roll, a battery mounted within the bore, a lamp bulbadjacent the outer end of the block, and means connecting the battery and bulb in an electrical cir-, cuit with the said contact members.

9. A gauge for use in obtaining correct alignment between a pair of grooved rolls of a rolling mill and an associated guide box having a channel therein of rectangular cross-section extending at right angles with the rolls comprising a pair of elongated blocks of rectangular crosssection connected for relative sliding movement longitudinally and arranged to fit closely within the channel and to be pushed inwardly toward the rolls, a pair of contact members mounted on the inner end of each block and electrically insulated from each other and from the block, the said members being arranged to enter the respective roll grooves and to engage the opposite sides thereof when the grooves are correctly aligned with the guide box, whereby each pair of members will be electrically connected by the corresponding roll, each block having a bore therein, a battery mounted within each bore, a lamp bulb adjacent the outer end of each block, and means connecting each battery and bulb in an electrical circuit with the corresponding contact members. 7

ERIC H. FORS. JOSEPH W. RODNICK. 

